Chambers Chatter JANUARY 2008

JANUARY 2008

WHERE SHALL I START?

So much is happening… or has already happened, that I don’t know what to tell first. I’ll just start by telling you that Big Brother Tommy and Marguerite have relocated to an assisted living complex near their daughter Susan Blakemore. Their address is 2755 Chestnut Ridge Road Apt. 205, Kingwood, Texas 77339. Phone # 281-973-1620

Tommy wrote, “Our two bedroom apartment is fine. One bedroom is master and the other one we use as a TV and lap top computer room. It’s adequate but still takes time to get accustomed to much less space. The complex has a guest room we will get for you when you come to see us. Love Ya! Tommy Lee”

HOW TO MAKE A PERSON FEEL OLD

Let’s see, now….. My sister Lillie had a daughter named Joetta. That made Joetta my niece. Joetta had Laurie. So, I guess Laurie is my great-niece. Laurie had Ben. Is Ben my great-great-nephew? Oh Lord!!! Now Ben has a baby… Great-great-great-------- Whew!!!!

AN E-MAIL FROM LAURIE Monday, September 24, 2007 9:59 PM

Subject: Did you know I'm now a GRANDMA??

Ben and Kristin had their adorable baby boy on August 28, 2007. He weighed 8 lbs 12 oz and his name is Ryder Allan Spitz! Ben made it back from Iraq in time but Kristin was having a bunch of false labor pains and Ben took his 'baby leave' a little too early and was not able to be there for the birth when it FINALLY happened. HA! It's a long story, but we're happy Ryder finally made it and they'll be together when Ben finishes his school in Yuma, Arizona in November. They'll come to Powell for an early Thanksgiving and hopefully we'll be able to get a picture of the FIVE generations we now have in our family (Great-Great Grandma Lillie, Great Grandpa Buzz, Grandma Laurie, Dad Benjamin and baby Ryder).

Yes, Dylan is an uncle already at 5 years old. Oh well... Attached is a picture of the little guy (with his mom Kristin) Love, Laurie [Note: Dylan is Laurie’s little boy.]

MY TRIPS….

People, I have to tell you that it’s hard to get me way from Tranquility Place, but an October invitation to go with Son Jimmy and Vickie to their “cabin” at Lake City, Colorado did it! This was Bill’s and my first time to see their 2^nd home. The area and town are beautiful, and their cabin sits right on the Gunnison Creek… the best location in the entire town. We stood on the wrap-around porch, and watched the trout jumping in the stream below us…. It was fantastic.

Then, November 18^th, Son Billy flew with me to Lillie’s 98^th birthday party at Powell, Wyoming. I know I would not have done it alone…. but with Billy taking care of all the details, flying ain’t half bad!!!!

Our deceased sister Roberta’s three girls all met us there…. Patti, Deni, and Teri….. Lillie’s daughter Dorothy was there from California, and the home-town family was all present: Buzz and Pat Larsen and family, Laurie and Dylan, Scott and Justine with their little ones, Augusta and Charlie. A good time was had by all!

NEXT IN MY NOTES is an e-mail I sent to those of you on line:

Subject: Rock found on Jimmy Gilmore property Nov. 23, 2007 by Cecil Gilmore

“Hello, Chambers Family...... I'm sending this to all of you to see if any of you can come up with an explanation of the design on this rock Cecil found yesterday. The picture is basically the same size as the rock. The creek is full of fossils, but this is different. We cannot come up with a modern-day answer..... We want your opinions before contacting an archeologist from OU.”

Well, we had lots of comments, and opinions, but no identification. In fact, as of this date in January 2008, it still has not been identified, although the local archeologist has sent pictures to archeologists across the country, including to the Smithsonian Institute, and we’re back to Oklahoma. Our latest correspondence is below:

From: Shelton, Chris To: Tranquility Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 Subject: carving update

I called Dr Wyckoff (Director of anthropology) at OU. He forgot to E-mail me. He said he has never seen anything like it. He didn’t really know much about it, but he told me the person I should contact is the director of the Fort Sill museum, Tawana Spivey. Dr Wyckoff said he has had a lot of experience in identifying local carvings. I will send him the photos and let you know what I hear back.

IN THE MEANTIME, FROM GEORGIA RIDDLE

How very cool your rock is! (I have no clue what it might be.)

By the way, my daughter, Jennifer, married David Gandy on Oct 27. Her brother Rob ("Captain Whiteside") flew in from Italy, where he is stationed, to walk his sister down the aisle wearing his military dress uniform. They looked so beautiful and handsome! I will send photos when I get some. Dave and Jenn are living in Boston. He is an MIT graduate (Mechanical Engineering) but works as a computer engineer. She is working for Harvard University. Happy Thanksgiving, Georgia

JOHN CRAIG’S ACCIDENT

I obviously got delete happy, and lost several notes I had related to the motorcycle/truck accident in Phoenix a few weeks ago. Therefore, I will write from memory to the best of my ability. I was on my way home January 11^th when I received a call from John’s son, P.J., telling me that John had collided with an 18 wheeler, and the details were uncertain. Since that time, various people, including friends of mine in that area, have said it appeared that the truck either hit another vehicle, or swerved to miss another, and came into John’s lane. Those of you on line have John’s own words to describe what was told to him. Anyway, John was severely injured, and escaped death by the grace of God. He has now been released from the hospital, and is with his sister, Josie Irvine, in Utah, recuperating. His medical care has been moved to that area. It appears that he will not be working in the future, and all the legal proceedings are in the works.

John told me yesterday that Glen and Carolyn Chambers were in Phoenix, and were going out to Mesa to visit with John’s mother, my sister Nina Craig. I’m anxious to hear from them when they get back home…. unless they happen to have a computer with them.

I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID IT!

Connie Chambers, wife of nephew Paul, sent me beautiful pictures of their grandchildren…… this very morning, thinking I had recorded the message in my Chambers Family notes, and knowing that I had saved the pictures, I deleted the message!!!! So…. all I can tell you is they do have some beautiful grandkids….. and she has bragging rights!

My only excuse is that life is spinning so fast that I cannot think, or remember from one moment to the next. Good intentions….But I do believe a younger person is going to have to take over the newsletter soon. Who volunteers? And, by the way, I’m not getting much mail to pass on……..

SISTER C. Jo’ s family:

My sis has spent several months in an RV park in Sherman recently, to be near Roger’s family during the holidays. Her other boys, Russell and Richard, joined them the weekend after Christmas, and I’m told they had a wonderful time together. Now, C. Jo is planning to travel down south for the rest of the winter…. Going where the Snowbird goes…….

CHAMBERS FAMILY REUNION JUNE 13-15, 2008

[Father’s Day Weekend]

Tranquility Place, between Lebanon and Kingston, Oklahoma

Well, it’s planning time again! Please keep this page for references.

We have chartered the TexomaBelle Riverboat again…. Hopefully, this year the water will be still enough for us to sail. We will go Friday evening late, so that we are still on the lake after dark, to view the lights on the water. This was really an enjoyable event 3 years ago. This time, we will all eat in our Gathering House before we leave, and not have dinner on the boat. Everybody agrees that I am a better cook…….

Let us know by May how many will be in your group. Buying the right amount of food depends on it. We will only have one full sit-down meal, and it will be catered. There will be plenty of prepared food for all the other meals and snacks… but you will each be responsible for putting it together for yourself when you are hungry. That allows all the young people free time to spend down at the creek, along the trails, or at the lake.

As I write, dirt is being hauled for the foundation to a new multi-purpose building here at Tranquility Place. It’s the same size as the Gathering House, but is divided into 2 large rooms, with a bathroom in each. One room will be a place of quiet rest, and our dolls will be displayed there. At night. it will become sleeping space for the female species. The other room will house our Harley collections, the ping-pong table and dart board. It will sleep men and boys. Co-ed sleeping space will be provided on a screened porch along the front.

Due to the displays in the rooms, and the screen on the porch that might be damaged, children will not be allowed to play in this building without adult supervision. If children want to sit on the floor in the Doll Room to play quiet games, that’s permitted. But otherwise, no playing in that room or bathrooms, at all, ever !!

In the past, we have tried to furnish AeroBeds, linen and towels. We can’t do that anymore. We do still have a few AeroBeds that have not been ruined. And we do still have such things as old sleeping bags, etc, and a few towels have managed to remain. But don’t depend on those items being available.

We will put the thickest, softest carpet on the floor that we can afford in the rooms. You will need to bring your own bedding. If you can’t sleep directly on the floor, bring a blow-up bed. I’m entering the link to QVC where I shop. You will find all kinds of AeroBeds from $60 to as much as you want to spend. Twin size are easy to carry with you. http://www.qvc.com/qsearch/search.aspx 1-800-345-2525 for assistance.

Each bathroom will have a private stall for the shower, and one for the commode, so that the sinks will remain open to use while the booths are occupied. The men’s bathroom will have a urinal in the commode area. A clothes line and pins will be available, possibly on the screened porch, for wet towels, since you will not be able to leave them in the bathrooms, or on our new carpets!!!

I suggest that you get a fabric marker and put your name on your bedding and towels. I’m not saying our family is dishonest…. I’m saying people forget what they brought, and the things might look alike. We are just trying very hard to keep things organized.

The RV’s are still here for sleeping a few people. However, they have proven to be impractical as far as showers, commodes, and kitchens are concerned. Of course, we still have three hook-ups for RV’s and could probably find a spot for more, if you want to bring your own.

We are learning by trial and error what works with a group, and what doesn’t work. Our experience is with all the groups we have entertained here… school, Harley, other friends, and family. I think it’s best to discuss all these things in advance, so that our family will understand what is expected and what is taboo…..

I will remind you that there is no smoking in any building, or on the porches of the buildings. I have been known to shoot slobs who drop their butts on our property. So carry a pocket ash tray with you if you must smoke. Do NOT drop your butts into a coke bottle, can, ash tray, etc. and leave it on a picnic table for me to clean up, or to be knocked over and the contents scattered across the grounds. [Oh YES! It has happened!!!!]

We no longer purchase individual soft drinks in cans or bottles. We found that everybody took a drink, opened it, put it down, didn’t remember which was theirs, opened another and put it down. After an event, we had to comb the property, picking up full cans and bottles, and throw them away. That should not be our responsibility, and nobody needs that waste. Therefore, we buy soft drinks in 3 liter bottles. We require each person to take a Styrofoam cup, and write your name on it. That way, you know it is yours. And, if you leave it ANYWHERE, either full or empty, WE know it’s yours!!! When the meal or snack is over, you may either keep your cup with you, or throw it away.

We have plenty of small cafeteria trays that are very easy to hold. We also have a dishwasher. If we could get the procedure across to everyone, the trays make sense. But even with signs, we have discovered that people will not throw paper and foam items in a large PLAINLY MARKED trash can; put knives, forks and spoons in the PLAINLY MARKED pan of soapy water provided; scrape food from the tray into a PLAINLY MARKED pail provided; and stack trays WITHOUT FOOD on top of the dishwasher. Seems simple. Doesn’t work. Every time we have tried it, even with intelligent adults, the trays with silver, paper and food get stacked all over the kitchen, with the food from one sticking to the bottom of another…. So, we went back to the old paper plate routine, so that it can all be thrown away together.

Now, if our family can be trained to follow these directions, we can use the sturdy trays again!!!!

It’s our desire that Tranquility Place be a permanent spot for our family reunions, and we are trying to create a location of convenience, fun, and relaxation for everybody, without a monumental clean-up and repair process facing us when the crowd is gone. Just a little help goes a long way. We are old !

Please clean up after yourself, no matter where you are….

FOR YOUR OWN COMFORT AND SAFETY

Please remember that we do have snakes. They are not everywhere all the time. If they hear people, they usually will go away on their own. So we suggest that you carry some object that makes noise, such as a bell, or radio…. In a group, the talking is usually enough to warn them.

If you do come upon a snake, back away. Don’t try to decide if he is poisonous or not. Come get Granny Oakley, and I will take care of that sucker! That is, if he is a copperhead or rattler. I don’t kill harmless snakes.

Watch carefully for brambles and trees with thorns. They are numerous, and very painful.

Be aware that we DO have CHIGGERS. Most of you don’t need to worry about them, if I’m around, because they hunt me down and jump over tall buildings to find me. They don’t want YOU. I have learned to defeat them by wearing socks and long pants dusted with sulpher, if I plan to be in weeds. Walking across the field, or Bermuda grass, a simply spray like OFF will keep them away. We have sulpher on all the porches. But you should bring plenty of OFF, not only for chiggers, but for mosquitoes and gnats as well. That’s not saying they are bad… but prevention is prudent!!!!

Don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses. Only bring half the clothes you think you need. No dress-up stuff…. Sturdy walking shoes…. A hat with a brim….. Bring your sense of humor, your determination to have fun, and lots of love to give away….

I’ll try to send another newsletter before June, but no promises!!!! I’m loaded. Besides that, I’m busy.

See you in June! Love to everybody.

The Word Polisher